9781823

Trace Border Routing

PublishedOctober 3, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A display comprising: an active area configured to display data; a border area located outside of the active area, the border area including a first region and a second region; a plurality of rows in the active area, each row forming at least a portion of one or more display pixels; a connector in the second region of the border area; and multiple routing traces in a plane disposed along a length of the plane, each routing trace electrically connected to one of the plurality of rows in the first region and configured to route a signal from the one of the plurality of rows to the connector, the multiple routing traces including: first and second routing traces located in the first and second regions, the first routing trace located closer to the active area than the second routing trace, wherein the first routing trace includes one or more bends in the second region, wherein a number of bends of the first routing trace in the second region is greater than a number of bends of other routing traces in the second region.

Plain English Translation

A display device has an active area for showing content and a border area around it with two regions. Multiple rows of pixels in the active area are connected to a connector in the border area's second region by conductive routing traces laid out in a plane. The routing traces include a first routing trace closer to the active area and a second routing trace farther away. The key feature is that the first routing trace has more bends in the second region of the border area compared to other routing traces. These bends allow for denser packing of traces in the border area, improving space utilization.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The display of claim 1 , wherein resistances of the multiple routing traces match.

Plain English Translation

A system for improving display uniformity in an electronic device addresses the problem of visual artifacts caused by variations in electrical resistance across routing traces that connect display elements. These variations can lead to inconsistent brightness, color shifts, or other visual distortions. The system includes a display panel with multiple display elements, each connected to a corresponding routing trace that carries electrical signals to control the display elements. To mitigate resistance variations, the routing traces are designed with matched resistances, ensuring uniform signal transmission across the display. This matching can be achieved through precise trace width, length, or material selection, or by incorporating additional resistive elements to balance the overall resistance. The system may also include a controller that adjusts signal timing or voltage levels to compensate for any residual resistance mismatches. By ensuring consistent resistance across all routing traces, the display maintains uniform performance, reducing visual artifacts and improving image quality. This approach is particularly useful in high-resolution or large-area displays where resistance variations are more pronounced.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The display of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bends of the first routing trace include sections with greater slope than one or more bends of the second routing trace.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, as previously described, the bends in the first routing trace (closest to the active area) have a steeper slope compared to the bends in the second routing trace. This variation in slope further optimizes the layout of traces in the border area, potentially allowing for even denser packing or improved impedance matching. The steeper slope allows the traces to navigate the border region in a more compact way.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The display of claim 3 , wherein one of the multiple routing traces is located adjacent to and has one less bend than the first routing trace in the second region.

Plain English Translation

This describes a display device that includes an active area for displaying data and a surrounding border area, which is divided into a first and second region. Multiple conductive traces are routed within this display, carrying signals from pixel rows in the active area (connected in the border's first region) to a connector located in the border's second region. Among these are a "first" routing trace, positioned closest to the active area, and a "second" routing trace. The first trace has multiple bends specifically in the border's second region, and it contains more bends in that area than any other trace. These bends in the first trace feature sections with a steeper slope compared to the bends in the second trace. Furthermore, one of the other routing traces, situated directly next to the first trace, is designed to have exactly one less bend than the first trace within that second border region.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The display of claim 1 , wherein a number of bends of the multiple routing traces decreases from the first routing trace to the second routing trace.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces in the border area, the number of bends in the routing traces decreases progressively from the first routing trace (closest to the active area) to the second routing trace (farthest from the active area). This creates a gradual transition in trace geometry across the border region.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The display of claim 1 , wherein the second routing trace has no bends in the second region.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, as previously described, the second routing trace (the one farthest from the active area) has no bends at all in the second region of the border area; it is a straight line. This can simplify manufacturing and reduce trace resistance for certain signals.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The display of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first routing trace in the second region is greater than a length of an adjacent routing trace in the second region.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, as previously described, the length of the first routing trace (closest to the active area) in the second region of the border area is longer than the length of an adjacent routing trace in the same region. This length difference accommodates the larger number of bends in the first routing trace.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The display of claim 1 , wherein lengths of the multiple routing traces decrease from the first routing trace to the second routing trace.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces in the border area, the lengths of the routing traces in the second region decrease progressively from the first routing trace (closest to the active area) to the second routing trace (farthest from the active area). This corresponds with the number of bends decreasing in the same direction.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The display of claim 1 , wherein at least one bend of the first routing trace borders a third region, included in the second region, and further wherein at least a portion of a bend of an adjacent routing trace is located in the third region.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, at least one bend in the first routing trace is located adjacent to a third region, which is part of the second region of the border area. Furthermore, at least a portion of a bend in a neighboring routing trace is also located in this third region. This interleaved arrangement of bends further optimizes space usage.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The display of claim 1 , wherein each bend includes two straight sections intersecting at non-orthogonal angles.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, each bend is formed by two straight sections that intersect at an angle that is not 90 degrees. In other words, the bends are not right angles; they are angled or mitered.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The display of claim 1 , wherein the first routing trace includes a first bend and a second bend, the second bend located closer to the connector and including a smaller angle than the first bend.

Plain English Translation

In the display device with routing traces containing bends, the first routing trace includes at least two bends. The bend closer to the connector has a smaller angle than the bend closer to the active area. This varying angle configuration allows the trace to navigate the border area with finer adjustments.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. A touch sensor panel comprising: an active area configured to display data; a border area located outside of the active area, the border area including a first region and a second region; multiple rows of touch pixels in the active area and configured to sense a touch or hover; a connector in the first region of the border area; and multiple routing traces in a plane disposed along a length of the plane, each routing trace electrically connected to one of the multiple rows of touch pixels in the first region and configured to route a signal from the one of the plurality of rows to the connector, the multiple routing traces including: first and second routing traces located in the first and second regions, the first routing trace located closer to the active area than the second routing trace, wherein the first routing trace includes one or more bends in the second region, wherein a number of bends of the first routing trace in the second region is greater than a number of bends of other routing traces in the second region.

Plain English Translation

A touch sensor panel has an active area for sensing touch, a border area with two regions, multiple rows of touch sensor pixels, and a connector in the border area's second region. Routing traces connect the touch pixels to the connector. The first routing trace (closest to the active area) has more bends in the second region than the other routing traces, improving space utilization within the border area.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The touch sensor panel of claim 12 , wherein the one or more bends of the first routing trace include sections with greater slope than one or more bends of the second routing trace.

Plain English Translation

In the touch sensor panel described previously, the bends in the first routing trace (closest to the active area) have a steeper slope than the bends in the second routing trace. This optimizes the layout of the traces in the border area, potentially allowing for even denser packing or improved impedance matching.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The touch sensor panel of claim 12 , wherein the second routing trace has no bends in the second region.

Plain English Translation

In the touch sensor panel as previously described, the second routing trace (farthest from the active area) has no bends in the second region of the border area. It runs straight.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The touch sensor panel of claim 12 , wherein a length of the first routing trace in the second region is greater than a length of an adjacent routing trace in the second region.

Plain English Translation

In the touch sensor panel with routing traces containing bends, the length of the first routing trace (closest to the active area) in the second region is greater than the length of an adjacent routing trace in the same region. This is due to the added bends in the first trace.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The touch sensor panel of claim 12 , wherein the first routing trace includes a first bend and a second bend, the second bend located closer to the connector and including a smaller angle than the first bend.

Plain English Translation

In the touch sensor panel with routing traces containing bends, the first routing trace has at least two bends, with the bend closer to the connector having a smaller angle than the bend closer to the active area. This allows for more precise adjustments when routing signals in the border area.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The touch sensor panel of claim 12 , wherein the multiple routing traces are coupled to both sides of the touch sensor panel to drive the touch sensor panel from both sides to cause the touch sensor panel to sense the touch or hover.

Plain English Translation

The touch sensor panel with routing traces is driven from both sides, meaning that the routing traces are coupled to both sides of the touch sensor panel. This arrangement allows the panel to sense touch or hover more effectively by improving signal strength and uniformity.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. A method of routing conductive traces in a border area of a device, the method comprising: routing the conductive traces in a plane disposed along a length of the plane, each routing trace electrically connected to one or more touch pixels in a first region of the border area and configured to route a signal from the one or more touch pixels to the connector, the connector located in a second region of the border area, the routing comprising: locating first and second conductive traces in the first and second regions of the border area, creating one or more bends in the first conductive traces in the second region of the border area, wherein a number of bends of the first routing trace in the second region is greater than a number of bends of other routing traces in the second region, and locating the first conductive trace closer to an active area of the device than the second conductive trace.

Plain English Translation

A method for routing conductive traces in the border area of a device involves placing traces in a plane. Each trace connects a touch pixel in a first region of the border area to a connector in a second region. The method includes positioning a first trace closer to the active area than a second trace and creating more bends in the first trace in the second region compared to other traces.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: creating one or more bends in the second conductive trace.

Plain English Translation

The method of routing conductive traces, as described above, includes creating one or more bends in the second conductive trace, which is farther from the active area than the first conductive trace. This allows for flexible routing even for traces farther from the active area.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: creating one or more straight conductive traces; and locating the first routing trace closer to the active area of the device than the one or more straight conductive traces.

Plain English Translation

The method of routing conductive traces, as described above, also includes creating one or more straight conductive traces, and placing the first routing trace (with more bends) closer to the active area than the one or more straight conductive traces.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

October 3, 2017

Inventors

Benjamin B. LYON
Shih-Chang CHANG
Martin Paul GRUNTHANER

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TRACE BORDER ROUTING